80 Deputy Brian O’Shea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of farmers who were locked out of installation aid in the October 2008 budget and his plans to resolve these cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45201/10]

149 applications under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme have been received in my Department since the suspension of the Scheme on 14 October 2008. An allocation of €4.5 million has been provided in this year's Estimates to meet the financial commitment involved in processing applications under the Scheme and the preceding installation aid schemes. I have no plans at present to reopen the Scheme to new applicants.